Back in December 2014 I lost one of my closest friends, Alex Hubbard, to an unforeseen heart attack. Just a few months ago, in May 2019,  I lost another close friend and colleague, Mark Whiteman, to the same tragedy. Both Alex and Mark unknowingly suffered from a condition known as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and were sadly taken from the world far too soon. Alex was only 21 years old, leaving behind his parents, younger brother and sister. Mark, 37 years old, leaving behind his parents, wife and two young daughters.

To help raise awareness of this condition, I have decided to partake in the Bournemouth International Triathlon on 8th September. I will have to endure an exhausting 1.5km swim, 40km cycle and 10k run. Before signing up to this event my level of cardiovascular fitness was questionable at best; getting a stitch after running a few yards down the road...

By supporting Cardiomyopathy UK you will be helping fund the specialist support services this charity provides to those affected by the condition, and further research into early diagnosis. Over 1 in 500 people are thought to suffer from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, with it being the most common cause of sudden unexpected death in young adults.

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page. Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.